| Title: |
A Preliminary Archaeological Assessment of Proposed Development at 203-211 London Road, Staines, Surrey |
| Number of Pages: |
20 |
| Biblio Note |
Please note that this is a bibliographic record only, as originally entered into the BIAB database.
The ADS have no files for download, and unfortunately cannot advise further on where to access hard copy or digital versions.
|
| Publication Type: |
Report
|
| Abstract: |
A desk-based assessment was undertaken in advance of the submission of a planning application for the development of the site with an office building and car parking. It was clear from the examination of the SMR, along with the results of recent archaeological investigations in the proximity of the site, that the archaeological potential for the surrounding area was good to high. No archaeological material had been found specifically from the site, although this was as likely to have been due to a lack of archaeological survey during the previous development as to an absence of deposits. This area of the Thames Valley was believed to have provided an attractive environment for prehistoric settlement. The SMR illustrated the high degree of prehistoric activity in the locality of Stanwell, to the north of the site, an area that was dominated by Neolithic ritual monuments. Settlements must also have existed but had so far proved rather elusive, but were well attested to in the ensuing Bronze Age. The former Hengrove Farm had produced a wide scatter of Bronze Age evidence from the site as a whole, but the most recent work had demonstrated more cohesive settlement evidence at the north end of the site, as well as indications of prehistoric field systems. Almost every area of any size on these gravel terraces that had received formal archaeological investigations had produced prehistoric evidence of value, with the evidence especially concentrated in the Bronze Age. The site lay in reasonable proximity to both the Roman town of Staines and the main road leading into it. The town of Staines thrived during the Roman period, and it was not thought to have dwindled totally during the post-Roman period. The recovery of small items such as coins and jewellery from the general area may have been accounted for by their loss by travellers along the road to Staines. It was also possible, however, that these artefacts represented evidence of occupation areas. Evidence for a possible Roman farmstead was recovered during the archaeological fieldwork at the Hengrove Farm site. The pattern of medieval settlement was generally reflected quite well in Rocque's map. The development area was shown as agricultural land, on the outskirts of the town of Staines. This suggested that settlement evidence for the medieval period from the present site was relatively unlikely. The map evidence indicated the development land maintained an agricultural function later into the 19th century. It was recommended that trial trenching be undertaken in advance of any development. [Au(adp)] |
| Author: |
Nowal Shaikhley
|
| Publisher: |
Surrey County Archaeological Unit
|
| Year of Publication: |
2001
|
| Locations: |
| Location - Auto Detected: |
Thames Valley |
| Location - Auto Detected: |
Staines |
| Location - Auto Detected: |
London Road Staines Surrey |
| Location - Auto Detected: |
Rocques |
| Location - Auto Detected: |
Hengrove Farm |
|
| Subjects / Periods: |
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ROMAN
(Historic England Periods)
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MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
|
|
| 19th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
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ROMAN
(Historic England Periods)
|
|
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PREHISTORIC
(Historic England Periods)
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|
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BRONZE AGE
(Historic England Periods)
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|
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NEOLITHIC
(Historic England Periods)
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|
|
| Note: |
Date Of Issue From:
2001
Date Of Coverage From:
01
Date Of Coverage To:
01
Editorial Expansion:
Site name: 203-211 LONDON ROAD, STAINES
Study area: 0.45ha
Investigation type: Desk-based
District: Spelthorne
Monument:
Ngr: TQ04507200
Parish:
Postcode: TW184HR
|
| Source: |
BIAB
(Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))
|
| Created Date: |
19 Jan 2009 |
